Bengals re-sign tight end Mitchell Wilcox, place him on PUP list
The Cincinnati Bengals are now up to the 90-man roster limit a day before veterans are to report for training camp, and they fulfilled this task by bringing back a familiar face. Tight end Mitchell Wilcox has re-signed with the Bengals, announced by the team Monday morning. The Bengals have also placed Wilcox on the […]
The Cincinnati Bengals are now up to the 90-man roster limit a day before veterans are to report for training camp, and they fulfilled this task by bringing back a familiar face.
Tight end Mitchell Wilcox has re-signed with the Bengals, announced by the team Monday morning. The Bengals have also placed Wilcox on the Active/Physically Unable to Perform list.
Wilcox, a fourth-year player, spent his first three seasons with the Bengals after originally signing as a college free agent in 2020. He's appeared in 31 career games (five starts), and has caught 20 passes for 155 yards and one touchdown.
2022 was the first year Wilcox got real exposure as a tight end instead of a pivotal special teams contributor. He logged 566 snaps on offense (462 more than in 2021) as he was the team's No. 2 tight end behind Hayden Hurst.
In Week 13, Wilcox filled in for an injured Hurst and ended up starting the following two games in his place. He scored his first career touchdown in the second of those starts against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
As his contract expired in March, Wilcox became a free agent and went unsigned for four months. The fact that he was placed on the PUP list indicates he wasn't healthy throughout the offseason for other teams to sign him.
The Bengals were entering training camp with minimal depth at the tight end position. Drew Sample and Devin Asiasi were the lone experienced reserves behind Irv Smith Jr.
Wilcox will have to get healthy first, but he has a good chance of surpassing both Sample and Asiasi and reclaim his spot as the No. 2 tight end.
Bengals offseason move created must-see training camp battle
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Featured image via © Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
